There were no surprises in his room as it resembled hotels he had used across the galaxies. Showering and freshening up took a little time and an hour or so later Scott exited the elevator to the plush lobby. The moons were still visible as Scott walked pass the now closed glass doors of the hotel entrance. Only the moons were visible as the sun had already set. The mummer of voices and the clink of glasses could be heard coming from the hotel's bar just off the west wing of the facility. The noise was inviting and, with no more than a moment's hesitation, Scott headed that way.
The bar was busy with numerous customers and many different cultures mixed with beings whose genetic makeup was considerably alien, well they were not homo erectus anyway.
The surroundings felt comfortable and so familiar that Scott had to take a second look to insure he was not back at one of Jacque's places.
As he approach the bar he wondered if the bartender was hired because he was from a certain planet in a galaxy far, far away. Scott was sure he was from the same world as the bartenders at Jacque's place. Maybe they had something to do with serving bar that other nationality did not have. Whatever, the feeling Scott got was a feeling of familiarity and comfort like a second home.
"What's good in the beer category?" Scott asked the being behind the bar.
"I suggest a cold brew from the tap, one of the local brews would be the best." The barkeep replied.
"Ok, surprise me, please." Scott said as he motioned toward the visible taps.
Selecting a refrigerated glass then opening the beer spigot the bar tender leaned the glass in having the greenish/golden brew run down one side of the inside of the glass. It was an effort to decrease the amount of head that would swiftly accumulate atop the brew. No matter the technique it was to no avail, the head filled half the glass and rose above the rim about two inches. Closing the spigot the bar keep used a flat wooden spatula to remove the head piled above the glass rim. He then added more beer to the glass. He repeated the spatula and refill steps two times before he set the chilled glass in front of Scott.
"It's called Green Moon Brew because of its green tint. The green hops used in brewing are not artificially colored and they are grown right here on our lovely green planet. You can always tell the quality of the brew by the amount of head that remains after a pouring and this one is quite excellent if I may say so myself." The bartender stated as he turned to help another customer.
It wasn't really cold, it was more like wine cellar cool, it was however simply delicious. It did not need the frost that some brews needed to be palatable. He watched the pale green head of the beer for a moment and could not detect any lessening in volume. "The head of this brew would probably still be present even if I left it on the night stand overnight." Scott didn't realize he had said this out loud until the patron next to him commented.
"You're correct and I should know as I have done that very thing more often than I can remember, cheers." His or her smile spoke volumes as the half empty beer mug was lifted in a friendly salute toward Scott.
"And to you." Scott replied as he also lifted his glass echoing the familiar gesture.
"Sink-Lue, from Perubia Delto." The patron said as he half turned toward Scott. He extended his hand and Scott took it and they shook hands.
"Scott, from Carrier." Scott said. "You staying here at the hotel?"
"Yes, for the next four sleep periods anyway."
"I just arrived and checked in this afternoon, just before the lighting storm gave that amazing light show." Scott said as he pointed toward the front lobby and the entrance.
"It was impressive wasn't it?" Sink-Lue favored Scott with that amazing smile again. "That was my third show and I am still absolutely stunned and amazed at the amount of electric atmospheric violence and the panorama of vivid colors that simply fill the sky when it happens." Sink-Lue opened his arms wide as if spreading the sky before them. "Is this your first time here on this world?" He asked.
"Yes, first time. I think this short stay here is going to be a worthwhile experience." Scott said as he got the bartender's attention. "Well Sink-Lue, you ready for a refill?"
"Maybe one more, Ok." He replied then drained his glass and wiped his lips, removing the foam that had been deposited there.
It was an hour later, Sink-lue had decided to retire, Scott made his way through the bar out into the casino portion of the hotel. The bells ringing, the muted voices and the attention gaining alerts produce by active video machine filled the grand gaming theater like an electric sound blanket had been placed over the entire area. There were no areas untouched by the pulse of play in the gaming arena. The almost palatable gambling atmosphere was hypnotic as each machine and gaming table lured customers to their individual siren song.
Scott, not a gambler, decided to play a few credits in one of the machines. At first the payback was decent and he had, not only maintained his original investment, he had actually gained a few almost doubling his available credits.
The machine seemed to hit a wall as it now spun without the bells signaling a pay off. The gain he had made at first was gone and with each play the original investment was absorbed by the now unfriendly equipment. He could feel the need to invest more to get the machine to return to the preceding run of good fortune he had experienced. With the will of a non-gambler he walked away from the machine. He looked around at the decor and size of this single gaming room. It didn't take any smarts to understand that something or someone had to pay for these surroundings. It was a given, this facility couldn't be maintained with the patrons making off with the houses money.
Scott returned to the bar to get a refill of the green brew. The bartender filled a new glass with the same routine as before then placed the glass on a small circular coaster. Scott picked up the glass and turned to find a table where he could watch and listen to the band that had started to occupy the small stage across the bar.
He saw an empty table that should give a good view of the performers and headed that way. The small coaster that had remained attached to the bottom of the glass picked this time to come loose. Scott released the glass but before he could catch the coaster, in his usual routine, a young man who had come up beside him beat him to it.
This young man caught the coaster and placed it on top of the glass and then caught the glass and handed it back to Scott. The glass had only dropped a few inches and no liquid was spilled.
Scott looked at the young man. He sported a small beard and was dressed in non-descript clothing. He seem to just fit in without drawing any attention to himself.
"Sorry couldn't help it, were you going to do that yourself?" The young man asked.
"Well, I usually use this falling coaster as an opportunity to practice my quick draw routine." Scott said as he mentally took in the physical attributes of this young man.
"Don Ranks." The young man said as he extended his hand toward Scott.
"Ranks, I should have known. You're the one Colby told me about. I thought your name was Gordon Ranks." Scott asked.
"Actually it is Gordon but I shortened it to Don rather than let people call me Gor." Ranks stated.
Ok, so you do have an unusual ability but I thought it was only when you used that Anticipator helmet?" Scott stated. "And hey, what's with the beard, that is not regulation?
"Duh, well guess what, I got the upgrade and me and my beard are undercover. Like all the other devices that Cliff miniaturized, now the helmet is a mega simple implant." Ranks said as he gave Scott a healthy smile. "I don't look strange or anything do I? Does my head look any bigger because of all the implants?"
"Not that I can tell. Funny, we would all look strange if our heads reflected all the internal implants the organization shoved inside our cranium." Scott commented off handily.
Scott attention was suddenly pulled away from the conversation with Ranks. A girl, a woman actually, had just exited the elevator and crossed the lobby. Bells were going off in his head but they weren't from one of the implants. It was just
a natural reaction to someone very familiar but the reason she was so familiar had escaped him.
"Who is that?" Scott rhetorically ask as he vaguely pointed in her direction..
Ranks turned and let his eyes follow the lady as she left the lobby and entered the dining area of the hotel. "Don't know her and haven't seen her before, I don't think." He started to go after her and asked. "Should I go find out?"
"No, no, let me think I have to remember where I have seen her before, it's important." Scott said as he reached out and pulled on Rank's jacket, lightly restraining him.
Scott put the lady out of his mind and making sure they were unmonitored he brought Ranks up to date. Most of the info was not new to him but Scott's actual encounters were enhanced coming from the one who was actually involved.
Once Scott had laid it all out for him, Ranks just couldn't wait to ask about Scott's companion during those encounters.
"When can I meet him, you know, the Warman?" Ranks blurted out. "Where is he, he can't be easy to miss or easy to hide? Is he down here in this beautiful green environment."
"Relax, relax, I'll take you to meet him later and no he is not down here. He stayed up to explore the space station, it's like a city up there you know.